EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA - Official Journal (EU) L/2026/184)
On May 1, 2026, the provisional application of the Mercosur Interim Agreement began. In it, the EU and the South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) agreed, among other things, to the gradual elimination of mutual tariffs.
The Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) is a comprehensive agreement whose trade provisions provisionally entered into force on May 1, 2026.
After more than 25 years of negotiations, this agreement represents a milestone that creates one of the largest free trade zones in the world.
We would like to inform you about the most important developments and the benefits for your company:
1. The current status
The trade agreement has been provisionally applied since May 1, 2026—see Official Journal (EU) L/2026/868. While the full ratification process by all EU member states is still ongoing, the economically crucial trade component enters into force in advance through an interim agreement.
2. What will change for you?
The main goal of the agreement is the extensive reduction of tariffs and the elimination of bureaucratic trade barriers.
Tariff benefits: In the long term, tariffs are to be eliminated on over 90% of all goods. This applies in particular to exports of cars, machinery, and chemical products from the EU, as well as imports of raw materials and agricultural products from South America.
Market access: European companies will gain easier access to a market with over 260 million consumers.
3. Notes on provisional application
Preferential origin for exports from the EU must be declared using a declaration of origin in accordance with Annex 22-07 of the UCC-IA. If the value of the goods exceeds EUR 6,000, the exporter’s REX registration number must also be provided. For a period of no more than three years from the date of entry into force of the Agreement, the European Union will recognize a “Certificate of Origin” as proof of origin.
In case of questions, please contact your local DACHSER branch.